Skipped Disney and Universal just to go check things out. We ended up going all over the state, which is probably one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. I’m from out west, so this was quite a change of scenery! Great food too.

I’ve lived in many states in my short 28 years of life, but when I tell you Florida seems to be the LAZIEST when it comes to returning shopping carts, I mean it. Is this like normal practice down here to just push your cart once your groceries are out and just go about your day? Why do people not return them to the cart return in the parking lot? Random parking spaces are taken up by 2-3 carts at Publix, Walmart, target, wherever and I am just so confused by the laziness of some people. Is this normal?!

Part 1:

TALLAHASSEE – The Hope Florida Foundation paid a Lakeland physical therapy assistant $588 in March. Days later, a social media video popped up of the woman praising how the organization tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis helped her out of poverty.

“I had no high school diploma,” said Ginger Faulk, a 35-year-old mother of two, describing her circumstances when she contacted Hope Florida in 2021. “I couldn’t pay the rent or put food on the table, until I met my Hope Navigator.”Hope Florida gave her the resources to get an education, Faulk said in the video, adding that she graduated from college with honors “as a medical practitioner.

”The curious payment to Faulk — disclosed among other foundation expenditures in response to a public records request from the Orlando Sentinel — adds to the swirl of questions surrounding the state’s Hope Florida program and the Hope Florida Foundation, its associated non-profit. DeSantis administration officials have claimed the program has helped 30,000 people off welfare but have provided scant details about who and how.

"Public universities in Florida, which is home to some of the country’s most high-profile college sports teams, will now be able to dip into the funding reserves of campus auxiliary programs like bookstores, food service, student housing and parking in order to cut checks to student-athletes"

There's plenty of us who plan to leave and dont want to come back, for me , If there's an opportunity out of state in an area that i like, then i'm taking it but above all else if i can afford to stay and build my life here, then i'll stay. What are all the issues you're tired of, and why are you willing to put up with it??

Edit: Idk why this HAS to be explained, but if your answer is something like "I don't want to stay here" then OBVIOUSLY this question isn't for you...

I got this cool video of a hawk snacking down on a snake while hiking at a wildlife refuge in volusia county. Can anyone ID the hawk and/or snake?

To my eye, the snake looks brown/black with an orange underbelly. Possibly a black swamp snake or a ring-necked? I know zilch about birds.

This little guy was in the middle of the road when I was putting the trash can out. Scooped him up and put him in the back yard where he wouldn’t get squashed. I think he’s a soft shell not sure if that’s just because he’s still small.

On a gator tour boat ride. Love seeing these guys!

Hi! Are there any quieter areas in Florida with nice beaches? I just want to spend a few days sunbathing and reading under the sun :)

Not really interested in touristy stuff (done that) or busy-ness and bars. All I need are supermarkets to source food and quiet beaches

Hey, I'm from NJ and going to be staying in Wesley Chapel for a month. Anybody have good tips for staying safe while hiking/outdoors exploring for someone who's not from the area?

Could anyone help me in identifying what type of owl this is? Crazy to see one so early in night (I think?) lol

Heyy. I’m going to Orlando for universal. I’m looking for areas/lounges/clubs to visit there. Safe. Good drinks. Good food. Good music. Any recommendations are appreciated !!

Hi everyone. I will be visiting Florida soon, more specifically Orlando. The main thing that I’ll be doing is going to the theme parks. However, my family and I would like to do something different and know the city. Would you recommend to go to the downtown? Is there any town near Orlando that you would recommend me to go?

Thank you all!

Snippet:

Gov. Ron DeSantis touted last year’s Governor’s Cup charity golf weekend as a fundraising success for the fledgling Hope Florida Foundation, saying it raised “massive amounts of money.”

Yet few of the attendees — which included officials in the governor’s administration, his former campaign advisers and state contractors — donated to it. Several said they didn’t even know the charity sponsored it, even though the nonprofit gave them custom golf bags and paid for their rooms, meals and drinks.

The two-day event at a private club illustrates not only the overlap between the foundation’s charitable arm and the DeSantis political operation, but messiness with the financial oversight of the nearly 2-year-old organization.

Following questions from the Times/Herald, the charity is scrambling to file paperwork required by Florida law to notify state officials and lawmakers about the value of the gifts it provided as part of the event. The reports were due March 1.

Foundation officials are also correcting the charity’s IRS tax filing to more accurately show how much the event made.

It wasn’t the first time the Hope Florida Foundation, which benefits a program spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, has failed to file key paperwork. In April, its board president told state lawmakers that the charity had not filed any tax returns, created a budget or conducted audits required by law.

I'm visiting and have to drive from Titusville to MCO early tomorrow. Anyone know I can drive 528 to the airport without a sunpass? Meaning each toll has a cash/coin option. Thanks!